Welcome

Welcome to FreePressFreeSpeech.com

This site is a project of Comm 320: Media and the First Amendment at Simmons College.

In our “Resources” section, you will find information about the First Amendment including definitions, history, major cases, shield laws by state and resources for journalists working in an environment that offers access to vast amounts of digital data as well as the surveillance capabilities of the State.

In our First Amendment Forum, you will find blogs from Comm 320 students on First Amendment issues, particularly as they relate to course readings although you may find some thoughts about current events as well. With any luck, you will be able to read a variety of opinions on this site- some of which you will disagree with. This is as it should be. Engaging in debate is the very essence of the First Amendment. Feel free to comment, but please be respectful in your remarks. Know that comments are moderated for civility. Government should not engage in censorship, but communities are within their rights to set standards of discourse. Civility is a requirement of this community.

We will be populating the site throughout the semester, so the site stands as a work in progress. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please check back at a later date.